£500k Llanelli fraud businessman too drunk to be sentenced
A MAN has turned up drunk for his own sentencing hearing for fraud.
Michael Dean Taylor, 45, of Cwrt Naomi, North Dock, Llanelli, was intoxicated when he arrived at Swansea Crown Court yesterday afternoon, where he was due to be sentenced after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud, with co-defendant, Joanne Laura Marston, 30, of Nottingham.
The court had previously heard that investors in the company were defrauded of more than £500,000.
Speaking yesterday, John Hipkin, representing Taylor, told Judge Huw Davies that his client had arrived in court drunk.
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"He has had a drink," he said.
"He does have a problem, but I have concerns at his particular position in the exercise about to take place today.
"I don't know if he can participate in a meaningful way."
Jude Huw Davies said he was not prepared to allow proceedings to go ahead, if a defendant was unable to follow what was going on in the court.
He said Taylor would be unable to "sober up" in time during the afternoon, and requested that the case be re-listed for another day. Ian Wright, for Marston, had requested that his client's sentencing go ahead, saying: "She is very anxious to be sentenced today."
But Judge Davies said it would not be correct to sentence the pair separately and the case was adjourned for a week, until Friday, January 18.
Marston was re-bailed with conditions.
But Judge Davies refused bail for Taylor and remanded him in custody until the next appearance.
In November, the court heard that the company, Tenretni which was run by the accused, was selling websites and a training package so that people could undertake the work of affiliate marketing, promoting a product on their website for commission, which could be a valid business model.
The scam involved promising large monthly incomes to people who invested between £15-30,000 each.
But incomes promised never materialised and customers would be encouraged to buy additional websites to increase their earning potential.
The defendants were providing themselves with false testimonials and would befriend people pretending to be fellow investors happy to sell half their investment to them.
No-one was making money and money back guarantees were not honoured, the court was told.
Three other defendants had conspiracy to defraud charges against them dropped at the time.
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